Multiple site hierarchical structures provide a means of extending and scaling Configuration Manager 2007 support across a wide variety of organizational structures. A single site is the easiest to configure and manage, but there are circumstances in which it is beneficial to set up multiple sites in a hierarchy.

Configuration Manager site hierarchies consists multiple individual sites which are joined into a hierarchy by setting up communication between the sites, using site addresses and senders, to create parent-child reporting structure relationships. This reporting structure determines how data flows between the sites. Because this data flow can significantly affect the efficiency of your site systems, plan the hierarchy before you begin installing Configuration Manager sites.

While the most important considerations when planning for Configuration Manager hierarchies are data flow and ease of administration, it is important during the design phase to consider your need for additional sites. These needs might belong to one of the following categories: